Risks and Benefits of Socio Economic Activities
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Socio-economic benefits and risks associated with conservation land- use July 2009 Khanya-African Institute for Community-Driven Development (Khanya – aicdd) Head office 16A President Steyn Ave, Westdene, Bloemfontein, 9301, Free State, South Africa Tel +27 (0)51 430 0712 Fax +27 (0)51 430 8322 [email protected] www.khanya-aicdd.org Risks and benefits 09 May 2013 Acknowledgements Khanya-African Institute for Community-Driven Development (Khanya-aicdd), [Date] This research was funded by the GRI. However the findings, interpretations and conclusions expressed in this paper are entirely those of the author(s) and should not be attributed to the GRI, which does not guarantee their accuracy and can accept no responsibility for any consequences of their use. The report is available from www.khanya-aicdd.org Khanya-aicdd’s vision is to be a world class Institute making a major contribution to sustainable development in Africa. Our mission is to promote sustainable livelihoods and community-driven development to address poverty in Africa. To do this we work in action-learning processes linking government, communities, civil society and business, providing advice, facilitation, action research, implementation, sharing of experience and training, while drawing from global development thinking. African Institute for Community Driven Development (Association incorporated under section 21 in South Africa) Registration number 2005/006514/08 Khanya-aicdd i Risks and benefits 09 May 2013 Contents Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................... i Contents .................................................................................................................................... ii Glossary ................................................................................................................................................... iii 1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Background .................................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Current land-use practises in the GRI domain .............................................................................. 1 1.3 Existing and planned conservation related activities in the project domain .................................. 3 2 Benefits risks and opportunities from GRI conservation-related activities .............. 4 2.1 Rehabilitation Programmes ........................................................................................................... 4 2.2 Tourism operations ........................................................................................................................ 6 2.1.1 On-Park Tourism Activities ............................................................................................................ 6 2.2.2 Off-Park Tourism Activities ............................................................................................................ 8 2.3 Biodiversity resource utilization use ............................................................................................ 11 2.4 Outreach and educational programmes ...................................................................................... 15 Access to Natural Assets ....................................................................................................................... 17 2.5 Law enforcement ......................................................................................................................... 18 2.6 Protected area expansion ............................................................................................................ 18 2.7 Stewardship Programmes ........................................................................................................... 19 2.8 Integrating biodiversity priorities into land use planning and decision making ............................ 20 3 Recommendations to avoid Risks from conservation-related activities .................. 22 4 Conclusions and Discussions ............................................. Error! Bookmark not defined. Annex 1 References .......................................................................................................... 24 Khanya-aicdd ii Risks and benefits 09 May 2013 Glossary BEE Black Economic Empowerment C.A.P.E Cape Action for People and the Environment CTR Cape Timber Resources EPWP Expanded Public Works Programme GGP Gross Geographic Product GR Garden Route GRI Garden Route Initiative MTO Mountain to Ocean PPP Public Private Partnership SMME Small Medium and Micro Enterprise TOR Terms of Reference Khanya-aicdd iii Risks and benefits 09 May 2013 1 Introduction 1.1 Background While the GRI is fundamentally a conservation orientated programme designed to consolidate and expand conservation land use in the Garden Route, it is recognised that these activities take place within a challenging social, economic and political context. For the programme to demonstrate success it is not only necessary that it generates conservation benefits, but that it simultaneously contributes positively to the socio-economic development of the people in the region. In the words of the GRI: Indeed, the biodiversity conservation activities cannot be seen as successful or politically acceptable if the wider socio-economic development needs are not being addressed at the same time, and in a manner that integrates efforts to promote greater social equity into the core work of conserving biodiversity. An assessment of the existing and potential socio-economic benefits and risks associated with the programme needs to be informed by the following related aspects: • the regional socio-economic context (Report 1), • current land use in the planning domain (Report 1 and further summarised here), • and existing and planned conservation related activities. It also requires an appreciation of the environmental goods and services provided by different biomes/ecosystems as well as existing linkages between the natural and social environments. This includes understanding the role of natural resources in economically productive activities such as biodiversity-based industries, as well as their role in sustaining survivalist livelihoods at the household level. 1.2 Current land-use practises in the GRI domain The Garden Route Initiative planning domain covers a vast area which includes the Mossel Bay, George, Knysna, Bitou, Koukamma and Kouga local municipalities, as well as the area south of the N9 and R62 roads to include the entire catchment areas of the rivers that drain south from the Outeniqua and Tsitsikamma mountains. The Garden Route comprises a rich and varied natural landscape including a number of different ecosystems such as mountain fynbos water catchment areas, indigenous forests, and coastal, marine and inland aquatic systems. The area is further characterised by distinct patterns of human settlement (linked in part to the ecology) with a rainfall gradient of between 500mm and 2300mm per year. The main urban centres and associated infrastructure (e.g. national road) are located along the coastal belt. The predominant land use types in the region comprise agriculture, tourism, forestry with light and heavy industry (Mosgas), manufacturing and services linked to the urban centres. With Khanya-aicdd 1 Risks and benefits 09 May 2013 regard to spatial differentiation, forestry occurs throughout the region while most agricultural activity takes place in the Mossel Bay/George area in the West and the Langkloof and Gamtoos Valley in the East. The main agricultural commodities produced include: dairy (mostly in the coastal regions), beef, sheep and ostriches (mainly in the west), horses (Knysna and Bitou), vegetables (throughout, but mostly in George, the Langkloof and Gamtoos Valley), fruit (some citrus in the west and in the Gamtoos Valley, a variety of fruit in the Langkloof, Macadamia nuts in Knysna), and wine (in the west). In addition there are a number of natural products that are farmed, albeit at a smaller scale. These include: aloes for health products and creams (Mossel Bay), wild flowers (mountain fynbos areas, forest ferns, thatching grass), essential oils (khaki bos), honeybush tea, and aquaculture. Tourism is largely concentrated in and around the coastal belt with a focus in the central region from Tsitsikamma through Plettenberg Bay, Knysna, Sedgefield and Wilderness. Tourism activities extend into the forest fringes and a number of hiking trails traverse the mountainous inland region. The Garden Route is ranked 3 rd as the most preferred tourist destination within South Africa and in 2005 tourism contributed 7.1% or R53.9 billion to South Africa’s GGP, contributing more than the gold industry per annum. The regions popularity has led to a host of tourism related services and activities throughout the coastal belt. Land development for tourism activities and holiday homes has been particularly prevalent within the towns of Plettenburg Bay, Knysna, Sedgefield, Wilderness and Mossel Bay. Land use for larger tourism related activities such as Birds of Eden and Monkey Land is also prevalent within the region. Of significance in recent years is the decrease in commercial forestry activities in the region. This follows a decision by the state to gradually exit approximately 50% of the land area currently